Players' union wades into European war
The Professional Rugby Players’ Association (PRA) have reacted angrily to the ongoing row which forced the Anglo-French boycott of next season’s Heineken Cup.
The 12 Guinness Premiership clubs and the French Top 14 voted not to participate in any European competition next season in a row with the Rugby Football Union over shareholding and voting rights.
But PRA chief executive Damian Hopley demanded all parties stop the bickering and “take a leap of faith” in order to resolve the long-running battle between the RFU and the clubs.
Hopley said: “The endless club versus country battle is doing material damage to the sport and the players are now calling on both Premier Rugby [the clubs’ umbrella body] and the RFU to stop these public disputes and find a lasting solution, in conjunction with the PRA.
“Given the direct financial implications of these latest developments to the club game, we believe that all stakeholders should be able to directly influence the competitions in which they participate, but this must be done as part of a solution that addresses the player welfare and international release issues.
“It is time for both parties to take a leap of faith, get round the table and stop the public slanging matches. The patience of both the rugby players and the rugby fans is wearing extremely thin.
“The PRA are offering to facilitate a meeting with both parties at a neutral venue in order to agree a workable solution.
“The players all want to play in a tournament that rated so highly in the Ipsos Mori survey and the PRA believe by acting as the voice of reason it would help establish a sustainable future for the game.”
The current European Rugby Cup agreement expires this season and negotiations have been going on for 16 months to nail down a new long-term deal.
As part of the new agreement Premier Rugby want the RFU to hand over 50% of the shareholding and voting rights of European Rugby Cup Ltd.
Premier Rugby say an agreement to that effect was reached with the RFU last October, although Twickenham bosses have categorically denied this.
The RFU say they would concede to the clubs’ request but not in isolation – they want it to form part of a wider-reaching domestic agreement covering international release periods and player welfare.
The absence of the Heineken Cup will cost clubs around #400,000 and the PRA are concerned how the financial shortfall will impact upon the players.
In Wales, the four regions are set to lose out on #500,000 each while the Scottish Rugby Union today warned that professional rugby north of the border could die if the European competitions are scrapped next season.
Scottish rugby is already in a perilous state, some #20m in debt, and last week the SRU were forced to close the Borders as a professional entity.
The absence of European competition is estimated to cost Scottish rugby #2m and the SRU fear the consequences could be fatal to the game.
The SRU said in a statement: “The French and English clubs’ decision to withdraw from the two levels of European competition run by ERC will have a significant rugby and financial impact on all participating countries, and especially for Scotland.
“It is clear that if there is no European competition in the 2007-08 season, Scottish Rugby’s net revenue will reduce by over #2m, some of which is shared with Edinburgh Rugby Ltd.
“The future viability of the professional game in Scotland could be jeopardised if a successful outcome cannot be reached from these negotiations.”
The SRU confirmed they will attend next week’s ERC meeting in Dublin to ascertain exactly where the remaining unions stand.
And they are likely to take the matter to the International Rugby Board.
The statement added: “Scottish Rugby representatives will take part in next week’s meetings with ERC in Dublin and will seek to clarify how yesterday’s decision will impact on all other remaining participants from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Italy.
“Scottish Rugby will consider matters further after next week’s Dublin meeting and an approach to the IRB is likely.”
RFU management board chairman Martyn Thomas is anxious to meet with Scotland and the other three affected unions – Wales, Italy and Ireland – to thrash out ways to support European rugby financially.
Thomas claimed the Anglo-French boycott could “devastate northern hemisphere rugby”.
He said: “We are concerned at the effect the English and French clubs actions will have on the other shareholder unions in ERC who will also suffer significant financial losses.
“We will be calling a meeting of these unions shortly to discuss ways in which European rugby can be supported.”
The RFU and Premier Rugby have both stated their willingness to conduct emergency talks over the next few weeks in a bid to ensure next season’s Heineken Cup goes ahead.
But Leicester chairman Peter Tom said: “There would have to be meetings in a very short period of time in which all of the current issues can be agreed.
“I don’t think we can continue in the way we have before with lots of different sets of talks.
“We need to be prepared to lock ourselves in a room for 24 hours to sort it out.”
